Inshore

Stalk tarpon and snook under the lights.

By ROB GORTA
Published June 29, 2007

Night fishing this time of year can be an effective way to target tarpon and snook.

Dock lights are one of the easiest ways to find snook. Lights around passes tend to hold a lot more fish than lights off the beaten path in the intercoastal waterway. Use a trolling motor on a low setting to get close enough to quietly set the anchor. Once you cast, be ready for the strike. Pilings become the biggest factor in landing fish. I like to use braided line; it gives you a good chance if a fish wraps around a piling.

Speckled seatrout can be found at night also. These fish are easy to target around lights. They will eat just about everything you throw at them. Jigs and scaled sardines are good choices, but it is hard to beat a free-lined shrimp as bait. Whenever I anchor at a light, I see shrimp skipping out of the water trying to get away from snook and trout.

There are a lot of bay area bridges holding tarpon. I like to find the brightest street light on the bridge. Bait will usually hold right under the light. Once I pick a light, I will anchor on the up-current side of the bridge. This allows me to drift baits back to the shadow line where the fish are cruising, looking to ambush bait. An anchor buoy will help you get away from the bridge faster. When a tarpon strikes, drop the buoy and start the motor quickly to work the fish away from the pilings.

If your intention is to just go out and catch anything this weekend, then the mouth of Tampa Bay is the place to be. Acres of small baitfish are being attacked by Spanish mackerel and bonito.

Rob Gorta charters out of St. Petersburg. Call (727) 647-7606 or visit www.captain robgorta.com.

[Last modified June 29, 2007, 00:40:41]